Petunia plant named ‘BBTUN04401’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘BBTUN04401’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers with yellow green-colored venation and centers; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBTUN04401’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeders' Rights application filed on May 17, 2019, application number 19-9875. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed Plant Breeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBTUN04401’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous, freely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Oct. 5, 2016 in Bonsall, Calif. of a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 16PB873-02, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Petunia X hybrida ‘Duesurimwi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,870, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 19, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 1, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBTUN04401’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBTUN04401’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. White-colored flowers with yellow green-colored venation and         centers.     -   6. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are denser and bushier than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have white-colored flowers with         yellow green-colored venation and centers whereas plants of the         female parent selection have cream-colored flowers with light         brown-colored venation and centers.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Duesurimwi’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Duesurimwi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading, more         vigorous and larger than plants of ‘Duesurimwi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching and         denser and bushier than plants of ‘Duesurimwi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than         plants of ‘Duesurimwi’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘USTUNI6001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘USTUNI6001’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘USTUNI6001’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of ‘USTUNI6001’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are denser and bushier than plants         of ‘USTUNI6001’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUNI6001’ differ in flower         color as plants of the new Petunia have white-colored flowers         with yellow green-colored venation and centers whereas plants of         ‘USTUNI6001’ have bright pink-colored flowers with red         purple-colored venation.     -   5. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than         plants of ‘USTUNI6001’.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘KL 1117’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘KL 1117’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous and larger than         plants of ‘KL 1117’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of ‘KL 1117’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are denser and bushier than plants         of ‘KL 1117’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia perform better in the garden than         plants of ‘KL 1117’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

At the top of the photographic sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBTUN04401’ grown in a container and at the bottom of the photographic sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBTUN04401’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15.25-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 27° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting and were ten weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘BBTUN04401’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 16PB873-02, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Petunia X hybrida ‘Duesurimwi’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,870. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at             ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at             ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at             ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about 16             primary lateral branches each with about eight secondary             branches developing per plant, dense and bushy plant form;             pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous             growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 28.1 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 66.9 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20.2 cm. Diameter: About             2.7 mm. Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong; flexible, not brittle. Aspect: Initially upright             then outwardly spreading to almost horizontal. Texture and             luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, developing: Close             to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 137B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire, not undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately             pubescent; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to N137C; venation, close to 144A. Developing and             fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C;             venation, close to 144A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.1 mm. Diameter: About 2.3 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 138A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single terminal and             axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to             outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 272 flower buds             and open flowers per plant at one time.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet, pleasant.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent;             matte. Color, sepals: Close to 144C. Color, petals: Close to             1D.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.1 cm.         -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 7 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 8 mm.         -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.1 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Spatulate. Petal lobe apex: Obtuse to slightly             cuspidate. Petal lobe margin: Entire; slightly to moderately             undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Petal lobe texture and             luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Throat             texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture             and luster: Densely pubescent; matte. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; venation,             close to 144B; color does not change with development. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D;             venation, close to 144B; color does not change with             development. Flower throat (inside): Close to 153D;             venation, close to 144B. Flower tube (outside): Close to 2C;             venation, close to 145A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a             single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately to densely             pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: When opening and fully             developed, upper surface: Close to N137A. When opening and             fully developed, lower surface: Close to 147D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong; wiry and flexible, not brittle. Angle:             About 45° from stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.9 cm. Filament color: Close to 2D.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed. Anther             color: Close to 11D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 10D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style             color: Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma             shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary color:             Close to 143C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has             not been observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to     Petunia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have excellent garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘BBTUN04401’ as illustrated and described. 